Clinical studies on teenage Brazilian victims of thalidomide

Ninety-three Brazilian teenagers with thalidomide embryopathy were studied. The pattern of distribution of their most significant defect was: upper limbs, 66; lower limbs, 8; all four limbs, 12; head, 7. Only 10 individuals presented the major defect unilaterally. In 30 of 83 with bilateral defects there were differences in severity between the two sides. Of the 31 patients whose spines had been X-rayed, 16 showed defects, the most common being spina bifida occulta at S1. Gynecomasty was found in three of the patients having major upper limb defects.